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About Metro DC DSA

Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America is a chapter of the national Democratic Socialists of America, the largest socialist organization in the United States. Since DSA’s 2016 We Need Bernie campaign, we have grown into a potent force for change both nationally and locally in the DC-Maryland-Virginia area.

We organize to build workplace democracy, demand a right to housing, confront immigration detention profiteers, stand up to Amazon, ensure a just transition, and fight fascism. We also invest in creating a space to learn, grow, and build solidarity, by putting on political education, internal organizing, and social events. Check out our Events Calendar to find upcoming ways to get involved, learn more about the work we do, and join DSA to help build a better future for us all.

A Brief History of the DSA

Democratic Socialists of America has its roots in the New Left movement of the 1960s. It arose from the Socialist Party of America and the New American Movement, under the leadership of Left activist Michael Harrington, who formed the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC). The Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee emerged from the Socialist Party in the 1970s, from a left riven by the Vietnam War.

Harrington, author of The Other America, led DSOC as it joined with other left organizations to become DSA in 1980. Michael Harrington and socialist feminist author Barbara Ehrenreich served as DSA’s first co-chairs.

DSA’s membership is currently the largest in our history, with approximately 50,000 national members and growing every day. Our organization is ever-evolving to confront the challenges presented by capitalism, fascism, and systemic inequality.

A comprehensive account of our organization’s history is available the national DSA website.

Why Socialism?

We advocate for democratic socialism, a radical restructuring of our economic and political systems to value people over profits. Rather than our current economy, which is controlled by the wealthy few for their own benefit, we envision an economy that is democratically controlled. By working toward change that rejects heterosexist, patriarchal, imperialist capitalism, we believe that we can create a free, democratic, humane society for us all.